Modern Library Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century (39)

John and Roy Grimes are brothers in 1935 Harlem. Their family belongs
to the Temple of the Blood Baptized, a Pentecostal church where their Father
is a Deacon. Everyone says that John has a "Great future" and might become
a "Great Leader of his People", meanwhile he is waiting for the spirit
of the Lord to descend upon him. Roy, on the other hand, has begun to get
in trouble. Still their father obviously prefers Roy, the bad son, to John,
the good son.

Part 2)

Here we flashback to the early adult years of Gabriel Grimes, the boys'
father, and his sister Florence, and discover that Gabriel had a bastard
son.

Part 3)

Tells the story of Elizabeth Grimes, the boys' mother. We find
out that John is not Gabriel's son.

Part 4)

The book concludes with John taking his rightful place in the Temple,
as the Spirit takes him & he goes to the church's "Threshing Floor"
& speaks in tongues.

It all makes for a starkly Freudian proceeding; John must confront &
triumph over his Father, before taking his place in Society. One assumes
it's all autobiographical, perhaps too much so. It ends up being more of
a peek inside Baldwin's head than a universal tale.